Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's condition required continued private hospital care until February 16, 2005. As VA facilities were not feasibly available for him during this period, reimbursement is granted for the remaining time of his hospitalization.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling a Travel Board hearing for the issue of service connection for hypertension.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and COPD, finding no relationship between these conditions and his military service or his service-connected diabetes.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension in May 1999, finding that there was no evidence of hypertension during or immediately after service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current congestive heart failure with hypertension did not begin during service or within one year following discharge, and there is no competent medical opinion linking these conditions to service. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, heart condition, and erectile dysfunction were denied. Service connection was granted for diabetes mellitus with a 20% rating throughout the appeal period. The veteran's peripheral neuropathy conditions are rated based on their severity.

The veteran's claim for increased disability rating for PTSD with depression was granted, and he is now rated at 50 percent disabling effective from June 28, 2006. The original service connection claims for coronary artery disease, hypertension, CVA, and headaches remain pending.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bipolar disorder, hypertension, left hip condition with arthritis, left ankle disability with arthritis, back disability, headaches, and respiratory disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of the veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder. The claims are also being reviewed for secondary service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, including HIV-related illness, hammertoes of the left foot, hypertension, GERD, hearing loss, eczema, hordeolum (eye condition), herpes (HSV-2), and condyloma. The appeals are dismissed.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension and residuals of a vagotomy and antrectomy were denied as the veteran failed to appear at scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and an eye disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and hypertension, finding no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension. The Board has determined that the records are incomplete and needs to obtain additional information from the Tennessee National Guard, including medical records from his periods of active duty and active duty for training.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, an ulcer disorder, hypertension, allergic rhinitis, and a skin disorder. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of these conditions in service or until after separation from service, and that the veteran did not engage in combat or have a diagnosed PTSD.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and treatment records.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to her ability to dress, clean herself, feed herself, attend to her needs, and protect herself from hazards.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development of the record, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for hypertension and service connection for diabetes mellitus secondary to hypertension. The issues of entitlement to service connection for renal disease secondary to hypertension and an eye condition, also related to hypertension, are pending in the Appeals Management Center (AMC).

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to hypertension resulting in a fatal cardiac incident. The appellant is also eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C.A., Chapter 35.